Waiting on date for surgery May 2012

I have to have mx plus TRAM flap reconstruction in next few weeks, just waiting on a call from the hospital with a date. Looking to speak to and compare notes with ladies going through surgery around the same time.

Hi Doodles

Just giving you a bump. I had an mx in January, but no recon for me at the moment so I am not of much help to you, but I am sure someone will be along to join you soon!

Wishing you all the best
Joan x

Hi Doodles

Just bumping your post up for you so that those awaiting surgery might see it.

I had a MX/TRAM in Feb and found the worst bit was the waiting for a date that you are going through now. I am very pleased with my results although I find it very strange having a boob that has no feeling, it looks exactly the same as the other one though, aren’t these surgeons brilliant.

I hope you get your date soon.

Take care
Lemoncake
x

I am having masectomy on 3rd may,I have a 5cm lump and its in atleast one of my nodes as the biopsy showed and they think it might be in another, the BS said its apocrine cancer,but this could change and its stage 2 which he also said could change either up or down, scared is an under statement,and i am not going to google it all either,done that before for something unrelated ans almost had a breakdown cos i had not understood what i was reading lol. best wished to all xx I am not having reconstruction at this time xx

Thank you Lemoncake, that is good to know! Can you recommend anything I will need for after the op??

Good luck with your op cornishmaid x

Hi Doodles

If you look at ‘Tips prior to DIEP’ from Feb there is quite a list of things on there that might be of interest to you.

x

Hi Doodles and everyone else out there(!)

this is my first post although have been an avid reader of the forums since my diagnosis on 19 April - IDC Grade 2. Having MX on 11 May where they will check any spread to nodes. Its all finally sinking in and I’m beginning to realize its not all just a bad dream that i’ll wake up from!!!

Em x

I’m getting really frustrated as I was dx on the 26th March and still waiting for a date for surgery. I went to see BCN today and she told me they have to operate within 30 days of them deciding what exactly they are doing (mx with TRAM Flap) which means it has to be done before the 20th of May. I go for my pre op tomorrow but just waiting on a call for a date for surgery which BCN says will probably be in the next 2 weeks. It’s so frustrating for me as I have seen people posting on here who have been dx after me and have had their op already. The only thing I know about my diagnosis is that it’s invasive. I just want it out of me. I’m having pains every day in my breast but my consultant says this is ‘of no concern’ to him as its because of all the tests and probing and prodding they have done. I’m just scared of it spreading. I don’t know if this is irrational but the day I was dx I was told it is invasive so they need to get it out. Sorry for going on but it’s just going over and over in my head. I jump every time the phone goes hoping it is the call I’m waiting for but 9 out of 10 times it’s bl*%^y calls about claiming PPI. argh!!! Rant over. And relax :slight_smile: Hope everyone is doing ok. Xx

I am new to the forum but I know exactly what you are going through!

I am also waiting for a date for surgery for Mx and ANC and jump each time the phone rings.

I will see the BCN tomorrow and pre op Assessment is on Monday.

I feel so stressed I can barely function at the moment - maybe when I get a date I will settle a bit and be able to focus more clearly on things.

My husband is no help as any time breast or cancer is mentioned he runs a mile - I cant talk to him :frowning:

The pains I have in my breast come and go but today they seem to feel worse (probably down to stress) and I have asthma which isnt helping much either.

I dont believe you are being irrational and if you are then so am I!

The cancer I have is Invasive ductal and yes the lump feels like it is getting bigger but again this may be down to being very aware that its there and waiting for it to be removed.

Hopefully we will both get dates soon then we can find something else to stress about - hopefully something normal (like nuisance Sales calls from people you really have no wish to speak to!)

Take Care doodles and everyone else here waiting for a date or those who have one!!

When were you dx madmax? X

Hi Doodles!

Was DX on 10th April 2012

Went for appointment with BCN this morning and she told me they would give me a date at Pre op assessment (which is on Monday) so at least I can stop jumping whenever the phone rings or the postman calls lol.

The BCN also told me that the date should be within 2 weeks of the pre op assessment date so if that is correct then im looking at a wait now of about 2 - 2.5 weeks which will give me some time to make some preparations for when I get home.

Did you get a date at your Pre op?

Hi. Went for pre op today. Still no date. But had pre op at my local hospital, surgery is elsewhere. Don’t know if that makes a difference but I’m hoping I will be in next two weeks also. X

Do you have any more appointments with your Breast surgeon coming up and/or did you query a date at the pre op?

If you havent heard anything by Tuesday (latest) I would suggest chasing it up - In my area we do have a central appointments office whose job, seems to be allocating all appointments regardless of department. It would appear to be dependent on who answers the phone though whether you get any useful information (In my case when I had surgery for something last year, the first person I spoke to told me I had to wait 4 months although when my GP told me to call them again 2 weeks later, they gave me a date for the following week.)

Good luck on getting something soon - although I doubt luck will enter into it since there are apparently guidelines in place.

If I dont receive an appointment at the Pre op - you can rest assured I will be on to the appointments to chase my surgery up

Hi all,
I am 24yrs old and have just been diagnosed with IDC grade 3 with a 3.3cm tumour in my rt breast and also DCIS.
I found the lump the end of february and went to my gp a week later. He referred me to the breast clinic where I had an ultrasound. Because of my age they didnt want to do a biopsy and said that the lump looked benign on ultrasound. I wasnt really satisfied with this as I had a bad feeling about the lump. I told them that a biopsy would be the only thing to put me at ease and they complied.
Amnt I glad now that I did.
Initially I was told that I would only have to have a lumpectomy and chemo, but following mammograms that showed a further area of pre cancerous tissue I was told I was to have a mastectomy with a reconstruction the same day. That was two weeks ago now and im still waiting for a surgery date. I have decided to have a diep reconstruction at the same time as the mastecomy but cannot help but worry as I still dont have the date.
I know alot of you have been waiting much longer but its just playing in my mind that i found the lump in february and this is nearly may and still havnt started treatment.
Every day im on edge waiting for the phone to ring and every day am dissapointed.
My breast care team are very nice and I am confident in their abilities I just cant help but worry.
Anybody out there in the same boat??

Had Pre op this morning and a surgery date for 10 May.

Finally feel as something is about to happen (until they cancel it because they have no beds available)

Have you heard anything yet about yours Doodles?

Hi Minniepower and welcome to the BCC forums

In addition to the peer support you will have here please feel free to call our helpliners as they can offer you further support,information and a listening ear, the lines are open 9-5 weekdays and 10-2 Saturdays on 0808 800 6000

The following link will take you to the BCC ‘Newly diagnosed’ web page where you will find support ideas, publications and information which I hope you will find helpful:

breastcancercare.org.uk/diagnosis

Take care
Lucy

Madmax, no date yet. I’m meeting with my BCN on Wednesday so hopefully I’ll know then. I just want a date in my head, the waiting is driving me crazy! Glad you have a date.

Minniepower I hope you get a date soon too. It is horrible waiting, knowing its there and just wanting it out of your body! I am in the same boat exactly. My team are also very good, I have faith in them, it’s all down to red tape and allocated surgery times apparantly. Fingers crossed we both get a date soon! X

Doodles

I hope you get your date on Wednesday when you see the BC nurse and I know what you mean about getting the date in your head! -Even though my date is still looming I feel better for knowing and probably slept better last night than I have for the last 2 weeks (whilst waiting for one!)

Minnie

Being told you have cancer is distressing at any age but at 24 - you have barely started to live and my heart goes out to you! Im surprised that given the size and grade of the invasive tumour that there is some delay with your date and I would query this with them. However, as far as I can work out - DCIS would appear not to be as “urgent” due to being non-invasive and maybe the fact you have an invasive one also has gone under the radar - I think you should remain persistent in chasing it up!

Its not totally unheard of for the hospital to make errors in fact when I went to the pre op there was a letter on file they sent to my GP that informed them they were going to do MX on my right breast - I nearly choked - as the tumour is in my left one lol - It was dealt with in terms of phone calls made whilst I was sitting there but, I wont be signing anything until I see that it has been amended on the written consent - and that they draw their pretty pictures on the correct one!!

I think waiting time also depends on area hospitals, people waiting in line and how they have classed your surgery in terms of priority. Maybe also, reconstructions due to their long operation times, involve a lot more planning and such (dont quote me - its just an idea!)

Anyway good luck to you both and Ill be thinking about you - please post when you have a date :slight_smile:

Take care

MM xx

Madmax I hope your surgery went well. I’m in for surgery on the 29th. It can’t come quick enough for me. Hope everyone is doing ok xx